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OBJECTIVE: Popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) is the second most common arterial aneurysm. Vascunet is an international collaboration of vascular registries. The aim was to study treatment and outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively registered population based data. Fourteen countries contributed data (Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, and Switzerland). RESULTS: During 2012-2018, data from 10 764 PAA repairs were included. Mean values with between countries ranges in parenthesis are given. The incidence was 10.4 cases/million inhabitants/year (2.4-19.3). The mean age was 71.3 years (66.8-75.3). Most patients, 93.3%, were men and 40.0% were active smokers. The operations were elective in 73.2% (60.0%-85.7%). The mean pre-operative PAA diameter was 32.1 mm (27.3-38.3 mm). Open surgery dominated in both elective (79.5%) and acute (83.2%) cases. A medial surgical approach was used in 77.7%, and posterior in 22.3%. Vein grafts were used in 63.8%. Of the emergency procedures, 91% (n = 2 169, 20.2% of all) were for acute thrombosis and 9% for rupture (n = 236, 2.2% of all). Thrombosis patients had larger aneurysms, mean diameter 35.5 mm, and 46.3% were active smokers. Early amputation and death were higher after acute presentation than after elective surgery (5.0% vs. 0.7%; 1.9% vs. 0.5%). This pattern remained one year after surgery (8.5% vs. 1.0%; 6.1% vs. 1.4%). Elective open compared with endovascular surgery had similar one year amputation rates (1.2% vs. 0.2%; p = .095) but superior patency (84.0% vs. 78.4%; p = .005). Veins had higher patency and lower amputation rates, at one year compared with synthetic grafts (86.8% vs. 72.3%; 1.8% vs. 5.2%; both p < .001). The posterior open approach had a lower amputation rate (0.0% vs. 1.6%, p = .009) than the medial approach. CONCLUSION: Patients presenting with acute ischaemia had high risk of amputation. The frequent

Objective: To develop a minimum core data set for evaluation of acute limb ischaemia (ALI) revascularisation treatment and outcomes that would enable collaboration among international registries. Methods: A modified Delphi approach was used to achieve consensus among international multidisciplinary vascular specialists and registry members of the International Consortium of Vascular Registries (ICVR). Variables identified in the literature or suggested by the expert panel, and variables, including definitions, currently used in 15 countries in the ICVR, were assessed to define both a minimum core and an optimum data set to register ALI treatment. Clinical relevance and practicability were both assessed, and consensus was defined as ≥ 80% agreement among participants. Results: Of 40 invited experts, 37 completed a preliminary survey and 31 completed the two subsequent Delphi rounds via internet exchange and face to face discussions. In total, 117 different items were generated from the various registry data forms, an extensive review of the literature, and additional suggestions from the experts, for potential inclusion in the data set. Ultimately, 35 items were recommended for inclusion in the minimum core data set, including 23 core items important for all registries, and an additional 12 more specific items for registries capable of capturing more detail. These 35 items supplement previous data elements recommended for registering chronic peripheral arterial occlusive disease treatment. Conclusion: A modified Delphi study allowed 37 international vascular registry experts to achieve a consensus recommendation for a minimum core and an optimum data set for registries covering patients who undergo ALI revascularisation. Continued global harmonisation of registry infrastructure and definition of items allows international comparisons and global quality improvement. Furthermore, it can help to define and monitor standards of care and enable international research coll

Objective This study investigated the diameter of internal iliac artery (IIA) aneurysms (IIAAs) at the time of rupture to evaluate whether the current threshold diameter for elective repair of 3 cm is reasonable. The prevalence of concomitant aneurysms and results of surgical treatment were also investigated. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of patients with ruptured IIAA from seven countries. The patients were collected from vascular registries and patient records of 28 vascular centers. Computed tomography images taken at the time of rupture were analyzed, and maximal diameters of the ruptured IIA and other aortoiliac arteries were measured. Data on the type of surgical treatment, mortality at 30 days, and follow-up were collected. Results Sixty-three patients (55 men and 8 women) were identified, operated on from 2002 to 2015. The patients were a mean age of 76.6 years (standard deviation, 9.0; range 48-93 years). A concomitant common iliac artery aneurysm was present in 65.0%, 41.7% had a concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm, and 36.7% had both. IIAA was isolated in 30.0%. The mean maximal diameter of the ruptured artery was 68.4 mm (standard deviation, 20.5 mm; median, 67.0 mm; range, 25-116 mm). One rupture occurred at <3 cm and four at <4 cm (6.3% of all ruptures). All patients were treated, 73.0% by open repair and 27.0% by endovascular repair. The 30-day mortality was 12.7%. Median follow-up was 18.3 months (interquartile range, 2.0-48.3 months). The 1-year Kaplan-Meier estimate for survival was 74.5% (standard error, 5.7%). Conclusions IIAA is an uncommon condition and mostly coexists with other aortoiliac aneurysms. Follow-up until a diameter of 4 cm seems justified, at least in elderly men, although lack of surveillance data precludes firm conclusions. The mortality was low compared with previously published figures and lower than mortality in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the most co

Objective/background: National differences exist in the outcome of elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The role of case mix variation was assessed based on an international vascular registry collaboration. Methods: All elective AAA repairs with aneurysm size data in the Vascunet database in the period 2005-09 were included. AAA size and pen-operative outcome (crude and age adjusted mortality) were analysed overall and in risk cohorts, as well as per country. Glasgow Aneurysm Score (GAS) was calculated as risk score, and patients were stratified in three equal sized risk cohorts based on GAS. Predictors of pen-operative mortality were analysed with multiple regression. Missing data were handled with multiple imputation. Results: Patients from Australia, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Sweden and the UK (n = 5,895) were analysed; mean age was 72.7 years and 54% had endovascular repair (EVAR). There were significant variations in GAS (lowest = Finland [75.7], highest = UK [79.4], p for comparison of all regions < .001), proportion of AAA < 5.5 cm (lowest = UK [6.4%], highest = Hungary [29.0%]; p < .001), proportion undergoing EVAR (lowest = Finland [10.1%], highest = Australia [58.9%]; p < .001), crude mortality (lowest = Norway [2.0%], highest = Finland [5.0%]; p = .006), and age adjusted mortality (lowest = Norway [2.5%], highest = Finland [6.0%]; p = .048). Both aneurysm size and pen-operative mortality were highest among patients with a GAS >82. Of those with a GAS >82, 8.4% of men and 20.8% of women had an AAA <5.5 cm. Conclusion: Important regional differences exist in case selection for elective AAA repair, including variations in AAA size and patient risk profile. These differences partly explain the variations in pen-operative mortality. Further audit is warranted to assess the underlying reasons for the regional variation in case-mix.

OBJECTIVES: To study contemporary popliteal artery aneurysm (PA) repair. METHODS: Vascunet is a collaboration of population-based registries in 10 countries: eight had data on PA repair (Australia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland). RESULTS: From January 2009 until June 2012, 1,471 PA repairs were registered. There were 9.59 operations per million person years, varying from 3.4 in Hungary to 17.6 in Sweden. Median age was 70 years, ranging from 66 years in Switzerland and Iceland to 74 years in Australia and New Zealand; 95.6% were men and 44% were active smokers. Elective surgery dominated, comprising 72% of all cases, but only 26.2% in Hungary and 39.7% in Finland, (p < .0001). The proportion of endovascular PA repair was 22.2%, varying from 34.7% in Australia, to zero in Switzerland, Finland, and Iceland (p < .0001). Endovascular repair was performed in 12.2% of patients with acute thrombosis and 24.1% of elective cases (p < .0001). A vein graft was used in 87.2% of open repairs, a synthetic or composite graft in 12.7%. Follow-up was until discharge or 30 days. Amputation rate was 2.0% overall: 6.5% after acute thrombosis, 1.0% after endovascular, 1.8% after open repair, and 26.3% after hybrid repair (p < .0001). Mortality was 0.7% overall: 0.1% after elective repair, 1.6% after acute thrombosis, and 11.1% after rupture. CONCLUSIONS: Great variability between countries in incidence of operations, indications for surgery, and choice of surgical technique was found, possibly a result of surgical tradition rather than differences in case mix. Comparative studies with longer follow-up data are warranted.

OBJECTIVES: To compare practice in lower limb bypass surgery in nine countries. DESIGN: A prospective study amalgamating and analysing data from national and regional vascular registries. METHODS: A table of data fields and definitions was agreed by all member countries of the Vascunet Collaboration. Data from January 2005 to December 2009 was submitted to a central database. RESULTS: 32,084 cases of infrainguinal bypass (IIB) in nine countries were analysed. Procedures per 100,000 population varied between 2.3 in the UK and 24.6 in Finland. The proportion of women varied from 25% to 43.5%. The median age for all countries was 70 for men and 76 for women. Hungary treated the youngest patients. IIB was performed for claudication for between 15.7% and 40.8% of all procedures. Vein grafts were used in patients operated on for claudication (52.9%), for rest pain (66.7%) and tissue loss (74.1%). Italy had the highest use of synthetic grafts. Among claudicants 45% of bypasses were performed to the below knee popliteal artery or more distally. Graft patency at 30 days varied between 86% and 99%. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variations in practice between countries were demonstrated. These results should be interpreted alongside the known limitations of such registry data with respect to quality and completeness of the data. Variation in data completeness and data validation between countries needs to be improved for useful international comparison of outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyse variation in carotid surgical practice, results and effectiveness in nine countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 48,185 carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) and 4602 carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedures were included in the comparison. A theoretical effectiveness of CEA provision for each country was estimated. RESULTS: 92.6% of the CEAs were performed according to the inclusion criteria based on the current European recommendations and had a theoretical benefit for the patient. The indication for surgery was symptomatic stenosis in 60.1% and this proportion varied between 31.4% in Italy and 100% in Denmark. The overall combined stroke and death rate in symptomatic patients was 2.3%. This varied between rates of 0.9% in Italy and 3.8% in Norway. The overall combined stroke and death rate in asymptomatic patients was 0.9%. It was lowest in Italy at 0.5%, and highest in Sweden at 2.7%. We estimated that the stroke prevention rate per 1000 CEAs varied from 72.9 in Italy to 130.8 in Denmark. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant variation in clinical practice across the participating countries. The theoretical stroke prevention potential of CEA seems to vary between participating countries due to differences in the inclusion criteria.